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Article Series: Hurricanes
Hurricane Facts, Tips and Safety Protocols
Preparing
Your Pet For a Hurricane
If you have pets, an approaching hurricane means you have
a whole other set of preparedness responsibilities than
your non-pet owning friends and neighbors. Just as you
make provisions for the safety and security of your human
family, you must do the same thing for your four legged
family members. Keeping your pet safe during a hurricane
requires a little bit of advance planning.
The
first thing you should know is that if you must evacuate
the area, your pet must evacuate the area. You do not know
how long you will be required to stay away from home, and if
you leave your pet behind, it is vulnerable to starvation,
dehydration, and injury. Most emergency shelters are not equipped
to handle pets, due to limited resources, so you will need
to have a plan of where you can go with your pet in advance.
The ideal location is to take your pet inland to stay with
friends or relatives or to stay with you at a pet friendly
hotel - many hotels will bend their pet rules in the case of
natural disasters. Another option is to ask your vet and the
boarding kennels in your area for advice on what to do with
your pets during a storm. Many hurricane prone areas have local
or regional networks set up to help house pets during hurricane
evacuations. Remember to evacuate as early as possible. If
the emergency officials come to your door during a mandatory
evacuation to make you leave, you will not be allowed to take
your pet.
Before a storm hits, make sure your pet is wearing
an ID collar,
with contact information for your and for a close friend or
relative. You should also make sure you have a current picture
of your pet, in case you become separated during the storm.
You should get three weeks worth of food and pet supplies,
in case you are without power for a long time, or find yourself
forced to remain evacuated for a long stretch. Also make sure
your pet is current on its vaccinations and that you can easily
access their vaccination record. No shelter or hotel will take
in an animal without these records. Keep a list of emergency
numbers, like your pet’s vet, with you at all times.
If you are going to ride out the storm at home, remember that
your pet will likely experience a certain amount
of distress.
Stay calm and do not coddle or scold your pet. Homeopathic
remedies, like peppermint oil on the paws or Pluto’s Pet Calming
Spray may help your pet stay calm. Your vet may also be able
to provide a tranquilizer to help your animal ride out the
storm. Remember to be patient. Let your pet take the lead -
if they want to be near you, let them, and if they want to
hide, let them do that as well, as long as they are out of
harm’s way. Never let an animal outside during a hurricane,
even to go to the bathroom, and do not let animals outside
after the storm unattended until officials have given you the
clear. Even then, make sure your pets are not in danger from
debris or downed electrical lines.
A rule of thumb when preparing to get your pets through a
hurricane is that if it is not safe for you, then it is not
safe for your pet. Prepare for their needs much the same way
you prepare for your own, and they should make it through the
storm safe and sound.
Emergencies and disasters can happen anytime, anywhere without warning. Protect yourself and your family. Click to see valuable emergency preparedness supplies and information. Be ready. Be prepared. I love this website. It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2007
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